Single Molecule Biophysics Platforms

The single molecule biophysics platforms were developed by the Yip Lab as a new set of tools for the characterization of molecular and cellular structures and dynamics.

Dedicated Tools

Confocal microscopy

Scanning probe microscopy

Total internal reflectance microscopy

Super-resolution microscopy

FT-IR spectroscopy and microscopy

Light sheet / selective plane illumination microscopy

By integrating many of these platforms together, the facility provides a constantly evolving suite of unique platforms that allow to investigate protein-protein interactions and molecular dynamics, both in vitro and in vivo, with exceptionally high spatial and temporal resolution.
The super-resolution optical microscopes beat the diffraction limit of light, enabling structures to be resolved with < 30 nm spatial resolution. The integrated scanning probe microscopes allow to directly map three-dimensional molecular structures and follow molecular dynamics with < 1 nm spatial resolution.

The light sheet microscope allows to track developmental processes in real-time over days with sub-cellular resolution in living organisms. A real strength to these platforms is that they are completely open in their design, both in terms of hardware and software.

Extensive use of open-source software and flexible designs allow for rapid integration of new technologies and implementation of new ideas to the systems. In-house 3-D printing capabilities enable trainees to rapidly build prototypes for systems.

The Yip Lab works closely with many labs in Biochemistry on the design and construction of prototype characterization tools, such as DNA combing instruments. These infrastructure are supported with comprehensive in-house computational tools for data storage, image analysis, processing, and rendering.